Talent is usually God-given but you can work hard for it too. Some aren’t really that talented but have harnessed their talent through years of training. Exceptional talent should be shared with everyone because not all are blessed to be as talented as these people are. One of the most followed and adored talent in the world has to do with music. Songs give meaning to our lives and we take delight in listening to them especially when we can relate to the song’s meaning or we simply like the melody. And for the longest time, singers and songwriters have made a living out of their talents. Some even earn millions to billions depending on their music and popularity.

While most of us know how to appreciate music and understand the effort that artists give in order to come up with really good songs, many don’t like buying actual records and pay for the artist’s hard work. Music piracy is a global problem and it is denying countless artists of their right to have ownership over their work and make money from it. They have dedicated their entire lives to making good music only to be pirated by others and leave them penniless and unable to pursue their passion anymore.

Music piracy is on the increase worldwide, with 40 percent of users are accessing unlicensed music, up from 35 percent last

The world we are living in right now used to be just a dream to our ancestors. Life was simpler back then and there was little to distract you. While life was certainly less complex, it was mighty boring for some too. It’s perhaps also the reason why innovators pushed for the development of newer technologies that won’t just upgrade our lives but also connect us to the rest of the world. Who would’ve thought our most valued possession would eventually be the smartphone. It has served as our gateway to the rest of the world through the Internet. You can do almost everything virtually and in real time. No more is there a distance barrier that can prevent you from exploring opportunities and potential outside of your comfort zone. But also, you may find yourself in trouble.

We truly are living in a globally-interconnected planet. And you don’t have to go far or spend a lot of money in order to do so. No magic needed here either or some really amazing teleportation skills because all you need is your smart gadget and you’re good to go. And as the Internet’s technology progressed, social networking sites were born and made life even more vibrant and alive than before. You can now keep track of the lives of the people who mean the most to you or idols that you follow without …

We all know that to stay healthy, once must stay active aside from eating right. Also, a sedentary lifestyle that most of us lead nowadays make us prone to developing ailments or predispose us to obesity because of the lack of movement our body needs in order to stay fit and healthy. There is no shortcut to health and wellness. Living healthily may look uncool compared to what the cool kids do these days, which is to hang out in posh and expensive cafes and eat in all the best food spots in town. A small minority are obsessed with video games, though, especially the males. They spend a great deal of time playing with games for hours on end and often binge eat on unhealthy foods that are convenient to eat like takeouts, pizza, burgers, fries, chips, and soda.

Playing with video games is obviously not a good way to boost your health as you sit for hours just glued to the screen but it seems that we have been mistaken all along because it can actually be put to good use. The truth is, people who are obsessed with video games are in their teens or are young adults with raging hormones. It means they are likely to have sexual contact but are the least educated when it comes to sexual health. With the help of this new video game technology, …

Playing video games is one of the best past times. Many of you have probably enjoyed hours on end playing on video games in your youth. They are not just great boredom busters but you enjoy a lot too and the hours tick by without you noticing. Different video games have dominated the world over the years and certain ones stand out and define a certain era. Alongside it is the rising popularity of specific games consoles that made playing with these games possible for all of us. We may think that game developers always knew what they were doing in developing these iconic games but it appears that we are greatly mistaken. Just like with anything else in this world, some masterpieces were brought to life by accident. Some of these games are not an exception but we can’t deny how much they have shaped pretty much our entire childhood one way or the other.

Without these games, there would be less color in your life and you have little to talk about to friends as well. Some may actually be anti-social for a while and stay cooped up at home while playing with any of these video games all-day and all-night but it apparently has a profound impact to your life that you don’t easily notice at first. You may be surprised knowing that some of the games you loved …

These days, we can’t get our hands away from our tech gadgets. Whether it is something as handy as a smartphone or a tablet or iPad or something more sturdy and multi-functional like a laptop or computer, our lives now revolve around these tech innovations and people all over the world can relate to it. If you are some who makes use of computers in your day-to-day be it in school, work, or business, it is inevitable for you to make use of various sheets, slides, forms, and presentations in the many things that you do. However, there are instances when you may inadvertently lose your data for a lot of reasons (internal or external) that may leave you cringing in horror at what and how much you just lost.

Indeed, it is frightening to suddenly be confronted with lost files when you need them the most, like say an hour or two before an important meeting or presentation that means the world to you. But the thing is it can happen many times in your lifetime especially if you are not careful enough when using your computer or too careless to secure your data when you still can. Yes, you can make multiple copies of your files or save them to another device, storage equipment like a flash drive or an external hard drive or save it up in the clouds, you …

Human beings have needs. Some are luxuries while many are basic necessities that we all need in order to live. Aside from food, clothing, and shelter, sleep is also a basic need that makes us function well in society. Aside from its restorative properties, one feels better and more alert after a good night’s sleep. Whether you are still a young child, a student, or an adult with work and other responsibilities, sleep is crucial in enabling us to do things efficiently most of the time. Unfortunately, because of the many distractions that we now have in the form of smartphones, other tech gadgets, and the mere existence of the web, we continually lose sleep day in and day out because of our own doing.

Meanwhile, some suffer from more serious and troublesome medical conditions like sleep disorders and the outcome may at times be disastrous. One of the most recent tragedy is the collision of two NY trains that resulted in the death of one individual and injuring over 100 passengers of the unfortunate trains. According to investigations, undiagnosed sleep apnea is the culprit why such a misfortune happened.

Two commuter train crashes in the New York City metropolitan area are being blamed on undiagnosed sleep apnea, according to an announcement yesterday from the National Transportation Safety Board. Investigations have determined that the conductors in both accidents—a September 2016 New Jersey Transit

The world resources shift from one place to another. And we are not just talking about natural resources of a specific land or territory but any type of resources that we now use. Industries all over the world can relate to how the rise and fall of the global market affected their businesses. The sun is not always shining and when it does not, it can mean a certain doom to someone. Despite the rapid rise in the world’s population, there are markets that crash because the supply and demand have shifted or that someone else has taken over their target market.

It is the plausible explanation why the Australian auto manufacturing industry just bid everyone goodbye. For a long time, Australians had been making their own cars but sadly, it has come to an end and countless employees suddenly found themselves without a job to bring in the bacon. Even foreign car brands have been shutting down production over recent years and the people are partly blaming the government for the death of the car manufacturing industry down under. The factors highlighted were high production costs, the high Australian dollar, and the continuously diminishing local market all contributed to this problem. The particular car brand, Holden, is synonymous to Australia. But foreign car makers are unbeatable and the Aussie domestic makers are nowhere near their scale.

People move places all the time. Although we have long since abandoned our nomad lifestyle, there is still a likelihood for individuals to move to another place or country in the course of their lifetime. It is what we commonly call immigration. People migrate for a lot of reasons although the top reasons are because of work, or attending an educational institution or they got married and is moving to the hometown of their spouse for good. Sometimes, people from a certain place tend to migrate to a particular country but there are times when it differs a lot from person to person. After all, the world is our oyster and nothing should stop us from exploring every nook and cranny of this planet if we have the means to do so. Other times, wanderers fall in love with a certain place or with a particular local that they end up staying there far longer than they initially intended.

Over the years, we have seen philanthropist businessmen speak up on various causes that are personally important or relevant to them. Migration has been one of those issues and continues to be a topic of debate especially at a time today when terrorism continues to be a threat to everyone. For instance, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook is pro-immigration and advocates less restrictive policies from the Trump administration. However, it seems that his …

Parenting is no joke. We’ve heard it time and again. Those who are not yet parents tend to shrug this off since they still can’t relate to it but becoming a parent is both a fulfilling and frustrating journey that parents all over the world can relate too even if they come from diverse backgrounds. From the news of the pregnancy to labor and delivery and the actual raising of the child from infant to adult, there are many experiences that will bring tears and sadness but are all a part of the very fabric of life. It’s not always a walk in the park, so do not delude yourself into believing it will be if you are a new parent because it won’t, so deal with it.

However, the times have changed. While the very essence of parenthood remains the same, there are obviously many changes and factors that we need to take into consideration. First, technology is a big part of our lives today. Just how much technology will you allow your child to use or expose them to are perennial questions? Next, the environment itself has changed. People’s behaviors and accepted norms are no longer the same as it was twenty years ago when most parents today were kids themselves. And since our basic role in this world was to go henceforth and procreate, let’s try to unravel how …

I’m sure many of you are aware by now that Christmas is already around the corner. Halloween is still a fresh memory for some and Thanksgiving is fast approaching but we know what follows next, right? Some people only got their eyes on Christmas especially the young because why shouldn’t they? It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And we know what’s as equally good as sumptuous meals and bonding with family and friends – Christmas presents. Some people put in a lot of effort and spend time in looking for or crafting the best presents for the people who mean the most to them. However, because of life responsibilities, many put off holiday shopping until about the last minute and panic at not completing their gifts yet and that prices have soared significantly and the choices limited. Meanwhile, the smart folks just find excellent sales online and get their shopping done quickly!

We must admit it that as easy as it may sound, gift-shopping is no easy task. First of all, you need extra money to pay for gifts and you need time to put together the list of people you are giving gifts to and what they would likely want to receive from you. It’s almost next to impossible if you’re a busy millennial today that juggles a lot of work, social, family, and personal tasks and issues on …

Life is not easy but you learn to cope. However, there are people who have a hard time doing that. These people end up hurting/ cutting or starving themselves, bottling up their emotions leading to depression and even taking their own lives when nothing else works.

Being mentally healthy is important to not only function like a normal human being but to also keep your head above the problems you are facing. There are days that will really be too bad where you just want to curl up in bed and do nothing but eventually, you have to face reality and move on. That is the only way to live and thrive in this world we live in. It’s never easy but you got to keep trying.

Spending three months in a hospital bed is a tough pill to swallow for anyone. It’s even more difficult when your anxiety kicks into high gear.

Joe Bietola has been anxious all his life. It came to a head when he fractured his leg, and was sent to Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare for several weeks. Confined to a room, unable to get around on his own, Bietola’s anxiousness only got worse as each day passed. He described it like being a zombie in bed.

People cope differently. While we may all put up a good front on our social media accounts, deep down we are hiding our …

Traveling is good for the soul. It not only lets you enjoy a new place, culture, food, and attractions but is refreshing to the soul. You get to experience many new firsts in your life while enjoying some well-deserved rest and relaxation – far away from the daily grind of life and the stressors you face each day back home.

While money is definitely an issue when it comes to traveling – especially international travels – there are different ways to make up for your lack of funds without totally eliminating the chance of going somewhere new.

“When you leave your hometown, your country you are not just experiencing something different abroad,” Hsu said. “You are not just learning something about somewhere else, but you are also learning a lot about where you came from. That is the part that people forget — that when you leave your comfort zone you’re the one who’s undergoing a change.”

And it couldn’t be any truer. Traveling opens up your eyes to the natural beauty and wonder of this world and the differences in culture from one place to another.

We all have busy lives now with classes and jobs, but when we graduate, life is only going to get more chaotic. We think traveling for college students is crucial because it allows us to gain more cultural and practical knowledge and first

All of us have a collection of sorts over the years. As a young child, you likely have collected various knick knacks that you found nice and fancy enough to show off to your friends. And your collection often reflects your interests during those periods of growing up. These collections may be considered as rubbish by others because most of them often lack in monetary value. However, they are the beginning of an obsession that the person will carry in his lifetime.

Among the most sought after is an art collection. This is an expensive and classy collection you can be proud of and even pass on to your children. Their value increases over time which makes owning one even better. Regardless of the style you like, there is something that will appeal to your senses and earn your thumbs up.

Every company wants to stand out in their industry. To make your company an original, you need to apply some artistic creativity to the decisions you make. The simplest way to tap into that innovative spirit may be to start learning about and collecting art. Although more and more tech moguls are breaking into the art-collecting world, that doesn’t mean it’s confined to the elite.

Even young entrepreneurs can get into the game if they play it right. In the 1960s, Herb and Dorothy Vogel, a postal service worker and a librarian,

If everything was set in black and white, the world would surely be such a boring and drab place to live in. The arts gave a new meaning to the world – allowing people to express their raw talent and inner creativity and bring some color and life to the world. We often associate the arts with artworks and art pieces but they are not the only form of artistic expression there is.

The performing arts are the fluid display of artistic talents in the form of music, dance, acting, and poetry among others. Their performances not only take your breath away but benefit you as well – whether you are the performer or the audience sitting in the crowd. Performers not only learn and enhance their skill set but get to mingle with people in their field who appreciates their talent or help grow their professional connection.

The site, performingartstutor.com, gives members space to advertise to the public and each other, connecting tutors with schools, as well as providing a place for parents and students to find individual teachers.

Launched by Laura Harwood, who has run performing arts schools in the past, the site is also a forum and resource library providing news, features and research for members.

Membership of the site costs £35 for an individual 12-month membership or £50 for a school or group for a year.

Diversity defines our planet. From the various fauna and flora that abounds us, there are also countless breathing and living species inhabiting the earth. Humans have long since claimed superiority above everything else and made sure to put their mark all over the world – be it up in the skies, under the sea, or smack right in the middle on land. We may argue and disagree on a lot of things because of cultural diversity, language barriers, religious differences and much more but there are other ways on how we rectify our differences.

Festivals are a great way for people to come together and celebrate whatever needs celebrating. Whether it is a local festival celebrated in your hometown, a generic holiday celebrated by almost everyone all over the world like Christmas and New Year, an exotic celebration somewhere in the Pacific, or an event for a specific cause, going to festivals is a great way to learn more about the world and other cultures of people living in faraway places. You may also have the time of your life while you are at it.

Fyre Festival founders Ja Rule and Billy McFarland have reportedly been “barred” from holding another festival in the Bahamas next year.

According to Complex, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism will not allow Fyre Festival to return in 2018, and plans to enforce a “stricter vetting system” for

Traveling has become a favorite past time of many mainly because airfare became cheaper and navigation isn’t that difficult anymore with the help of smart gadgets and the World Wide Web. Going to different places all over the globe also give you a chance to level up your social media game. You get to take photos in exotic locations or immerse in the local culture that will sure earn you the thumbs up of your friends and followers alike. Others even make money from their traveling experiences especially if they have blogs where they can share what happened during their travel, thereby monetizing your blog.

Your phone can make a big difference to your travels. You can take gorgeous selfies and pictures with it and at the same time use it as a navigation and communication tool. You’ll never get lost again with this in hand. While a smartphone is generally helpful, you should also be aware of data charges or voltage requirements when traveling overseas. Turn off your cell data before stepping on the plane or risk getting shocked of outrageous data charges abroad.

Planning for a vacation or a business travel outside the country is usually fun. However, there are still things to consider to make the travel a safe and convenient one. One thing to make sure that the travel is hassle-free is to set up devices especially mobile phones

The world is cluttered with all sorts of products, services, or just about anything else man can think of today. The population is growing, which also means there is a bigger market you can tap or possibly an entirely new audience for whatever you have in mind. After all, many of the things we now use today started as nothings yet they were able to change people’s perspectives until everyone can no longer live without these good or services in their lives. The Internet has a lot to do with all these changes and it is a platform that has totally changed the way we all live our lives today.

Business owners can now sell to an international market and not just to the ones back home because of the power of the web. With just a click of a button, consumers from various parts of the world can shop for the things they like in an instant and it is even made more comfortable as these products are delivered right to their doorsteps. To stay competitive in the global market, entrepreneurs must utilize whatever tools they have readily available at their disposal and it greatly involves the web. Online advertising is the new norm and there are various ways for you to get noticed by consumers if you just know what you are doing.

Social media brought out the narcissist in us. The word “selfie” was eventually recognized by most dictionaries because people loved taking their photos and posting it on social media. While initially, photos reminded us of important milestones in our lives, too much picture taking has bordered into the extreme. Many people post their every move on social media, which isn’t entirely necessary as not everyone is interested in every detail of their lives.

Another issue with social media is how you only show off the good side of your life. It gives others the impression that your life is perfect. It’s very apparent with the social network, Instagram. They even coined the term “Instagram-worthy or IG-worthy photos” when posting pictures on this channel because most posts describe perfection in a picture. Others get insecure that their lives aren’t as glamorous as their friends and start doubting their self-worth. That’s when Instagram became more of a curse rather than a blessing.

Instagram is the most detrimental social networking app for young people’s mental health, followed closely by Snapchat, according to a new report by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) in the UK.

Their study, #StatusofMind, surveyed almost 1500 young people aged 14 to 24 on how certain social media platforms impact health and wellbeing issues such as anxiety, depression, self-identity and body image.

That big black box where a moving picture with sounds is shown has always been the highlight of every home. Most families bonded over a movie or two and family members always had a favorite television show they wait for in anticipation weekly. As the years went by, the picture quality improved and you no longer had to watch black and white shows but colored ones. Then came cable TV. Others who don’t want to wait for shows to be aired rented or bought Betamax and VHS tapes until they became available in VCD and DVD format. But with the popularity of the Internet these days, streaming became the preference of many and in a way, it has replaced the role of television in our lives.

If you are clueless as to what Internet streaming really is, it actually is otherwise known as background downloading. It’s basically related to regular downloading but with a twist. You don’t need to wait for long to be able to view a video clip you are downloading because you can already watch it while it downloads. Another difference between the two is that you don’t keep or save a copy of the video you download when you stream. You have to stream it again if you want to watch the same clip once more.

Education is the most powerful tool anyone could ever have to uplift their lives. Even the poorest of the poor who had access to a good quality education were able to transform their lives for the better. They are able to compete with others who were raised by more affluent families and have higher chances of going up the corporate ladder or finding a decent job that will put food on the table, a roof over their heads, and even pay the bills aside from helping them become self-actualized individuals.

Most of the time, it is the government’s responsibility to educate its young citizens because they are the future of any nation. While the intent is noble, the challenges are huge. Money is definitely an issue because you pay for books and facilities as well as the salary of the teachers. Then, there are other school supplies that must also be met aside from making sure that kids are fed, so they have the energy they need to absorb all the new things they will learn in school each day.

Plan International Cambodia has launched a three-year project to help young children living in remote and disadvantaged areas in Ratanakkiri and Stung Treng provinces receive education and health care services.

The Young Bamboo project, which has a budget of over $1 million, aims to enhance the capacity of parents, caregivers, and preschool teachers

We all know that our lives here on earth are finite. Nothing goes on forever except the planet perhaps. At some point or another, we all get hurt and eventually die. That’s the cycle of life. And while death isn’t always the end for most species, for some it is. It’s what you know as extinction. We know about various animals that used to walk this planet but are now gone forever. Various factors are at play as to how extinction works but it does happen and continue to occur until today.

Considering that there’s the lingering threat of global warming and climate change, it is highly possible that more animal species will disappear for good if we don’t act on it today. Fortunately, scientists are already at work in ensuring the survival of those species nearing extinction. It is all made possible by new technologies that aim in preserving genetics, so we can continue to perpetuate those endangered species regardless of the current circumstances in their immediate environment and the world at large.

And now a new technology has emerged to help do just that, preserve rare and important livestock genetics.
The new technology comes via Canadian Animal Genetic Resources (CAGR), a joint initiative of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the University of Saskatchewan (U of S), to preserve the genetic diversity of Canadian livestock and poultry breeds, and to

People pursue various interests in life depending on their personality and unique characteristics. Yet there are still major driving forces that unite everyone together regardless of race, religion, educational background, etc. – it is our love for music. Music has different genres and you are sure to find one that you’d like no matter what your interests are. Music helps you chill out when you have nothing better to do and serves as a great stress reliever too.

But some people don’t feel contented by just simply listening to their favorite tunes on the radio, on TV, or through their cellular phones. Going to a music festival is just as good as going to concerts. You get to see various artists perform live in a comfy and lively atmosphere shared by all music lovers. And the highlight is, of course, seeing your favorite singers and performers perform live. You don’t get to see that often and a music festival gives you all that vibe and so much more. This certain high you get from attending music festivals is one of the reasons why many keep coming back to these events and share their love for music with everybody else.

For many of these fans, the success of the festivals is a foregone conclusion. After all, how hard can it be to run a successful festival? Find a site, sign some bands, sell some

If there is one thing that stands out in the world today, it is the dominance of technology in almost all aspects of our lives. Wherever you look, there is some sort of tech device that takes center stage. A few decades ago, the closest thing to technology the people have access to were the TV, radio, kitchen appliances, and the telephone. You have to do thing manually for everything else that is left. But today, there is a tech gadget to do the job for you in virtually everything.

While they have generally made our lives easier, they somehow made it more complicated too. Your brain has to learn how to operate all these gadgets and even use them simultaneously at times. Smart gadgets are a personal favorite of just about everyone, though, because there are a myriad of things you can do with them, so you can finally say to boredom for good – that is if you don’t forget to charge it so it does not run out of battery when you need it the most. For the upcoming innovative technologies that are yet to hit the market, the best place to learn more about them and see them beforehand are in tech fair and conferences where their makers flaunt their specs and features for all to see.

Get on your walking shoes and prepare to traipse exhibition floors. Australia

Addiction affects people of all walks of life in America. From the youth to the elderly, whether you are a man, a woman, or gay, rich or poor, educated or not, there are different forms of addiction that plague addicts and dominates their lives. Addiction often pertains to vices – smoking, alcohol, prohibited/recreational drugs and even to medicines such as painkillers – but most prominent of all is drugs, leaving people unable to function normally in its absence but more so when they are high.

The lives of these addicts are crippled and devoid of opportunities to start anew. But in as much as we loathe addiction, there are fewer stigmas surrounding it, but it is still there. Help is now available if they only learn to acknowledge that they need help in the first place.

“You know, man, I’m in this place where part of me hesitates to tell my story because of concerns about reputation and my business and all that, but at the same time, this is just who I am. It’s who I am to want to help people. That’s what this is about. Addiction doesn’t have the stigma that it had ten years ago, but it still has a stigma. A lot of people think that it’s a moral failure, and it might be that with some people, I don’t know. That was part of it for me.

Young kids can’t wait to go to school. The idea of meeting new friends, having new school stuff and learning a lot of things excites many young students. However, their enthusiasm wanes down over the years.

Peer pressure, problems with bullies, and increasingly difficult class lessons can put a strain on a student’s mental health. Add to that, parents have less and less time for their kids because of added demands at work and the desire to earn more to provide for their family.

As student’s progress through school, they face more and more stressors that affect their outlook on life. Gone was the bright-eyed child so full of excitement and curiosity to learn more in life. College proves to be the hardest hurdle of all as the pressure of rising tuition fees, relationship conflicts with peers, lack of funding for educational groups and the opposite sex and academic challenges leave students drained and mentally exhausted.

“Going to university coincides with a period of immense change and personal development. We know that one in four young people are going to have an issue with their mental health. I just felt it was important to break the stigma attached to things like anxiety and depression,” Connolly says.

Such is the prevalence of ­mental health among university students that increasingly institutions are being forced to focus their attention on it.

All human beings are different. Nobody was created equal – even twins. And as such, misunderstandings happen. Confusion adds up because of the fact that we come from different nations and speak different languages. Personal preferences also play a role in making the world more diverse than it already is.

There’s a saying that “Men are from Venus and Women are from Mars”. It is right on point. Men and women see things differently and may be poles apart but still can’t live without each other.

Then, there is also this confusion among gender roles in both sexes. Men would say they are a woman trapped inside a man’s body and vice-versa. Confusing more than ever, right? Transgenders and transsexuals are growing in numbers. Unfortunately, the World Health Organization considers it as a mental illness.

According to the World Health Organization, being transgender is a mental illness.

But that could soon change, as WHO prepares a new edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), its global codebook that influences national disease diagnostic manuals worldwide. The current version, ICD-10, has been around since 1990 and ICD-11 is expected to be approved in 2018.

The proposals to declassify transgender identity as a mental disorder have been approved by each committee that has considered it so far. A study published this week in the Lancet Psychiatry journal, offers up new evidence supporting the change.

Technology is advancing further and further as the days go by. It is hard to keep up if you are an ordinary person but the majority of us increasingly rely on technology in our day-to-day. Our home is full of various technological knick-knacks from cooking, entertainment, comfort, to communication, you name it. You can even shop or do your banking online too. Imagine how many hours you save from doing all the mundane things by yourself with the help of technology.

As we increase our dependence on these technological wonders, we also share more and more personal data on the web that may be at risk of hacking or data theft in the absence of reliable security measures. And we should not only be wary of nameless hackers but even of certain government agencies too.

WikiLeaks has offered to help the likes of Google and Apple identify the software holes used by purported CIA hacking tools – and that puts the tech industry in something of a bind.

While companies have both a responsibility and financial incentive to fix problems in their software, accepting help from WikiLeaks raises legal and ethical questions. And it’s not even clear at this point exactly what kind of assistance WikiLeaks can offer.

THE PROMISE

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Thursday that the anti-secrecy site will help technology companies find and fix software vulnerabilities in everyday gadgets such

As the world progress and technology takes over almost every aspect of our lives, important data about ourselves is now available online for faster transactions. If you have a bank account, you’d likely be doing online banking too. Those with credit cards also have online accounts and frequently visit online sites for online shopping (sounds kinda redundant, perhaps?).

But data is a far more valuable commodity that many of us have no idea about. It is why hackers will resort to all sorts of tricks to be able to get important data on their hands. Fake news and phishing have been all over social media. While we seem to enjoy scrolling through our newsfeed and reading interesting posts, we fail to realize that hackers are behind them with the goal of stealing our precious data through malwares or viruses you infect your computer with after clicking a dubious email.

The word of “fake news” has been spread around like wildfire lately, especially since the recent election. It might seem harmless, but frequently these fake news stories can go viral, spreading misinformation to millions of people. It is usually easy to spot fake news, if you look at the source, but there are so many people who don’t know how to identify credible sources, and they may believe most of what they read.

Politics is a circus, how aptly said. The wise men of yesteryear truly know what they are talking about. From centuries ago to modern-day politics, nothing much has changed and politicians are just interested in making themselves look good while making their opponents look bad. Well, aside from looking after their vested interests, that is.

Even the people can get so emotional when it comes to their political views. And with a bigger platform like social media, friends become foes and even family members sever ties come election time. Politics should unite people but it actually does the opposite today as leaders instigate the people who believe in them to be hostile to the other party through the articles/ photos/ or videos they post on social media.

Many people engage in Facebook politics because they feel it is the only way their voice can be heard, but it does more harm than good. It is unproductive, often negative, and tends to misdirect or waste political energy. Instead of creating crucial dialogue and engaging people in the issues of our day, it makes politics more divisive and even pushes people away from engaging in politics altogether.

In many ways, Facebook politics is an odd concept. Social norms discourage one simply blurting out controversial political opinions at a party. That would be quite rude. Instead, one normally limits political conversation to appropriate times and places

Loneliness not only affects a person’s emotions but the physical health as well. It is not surprising to see people develop physical symptoms when they are anxious or depressed. Palpitations, sweating, headaches etc. are just examples of your emotions getting the best of you.

So, why is it that people are more prone to illness when their morale is low? Well, I guess it has to do with your immunity. Your immune system can better fight off infections when your spirits are up rather than when you are feeling depressed. So, you are more likely to catch a common cold when you feel sad and lonely.

Suffering through a cold is annoying enough, but if you’re lonely, you’re likely to feel even worse, according to RiceUniversity researchers.

A study led by Rice psychologist Chris Fagundes and graduate student Angie LeRoy indicated people who feel lonely are more prone to report that their cold symptoms are more severe than those who have stronger social networks.

“Loneliness puts people at risk for premature mortality and all kinds of other physical illnesses,” LeRoy said. “But nothing had been done to look at an acute but temporary illness that we’re all vulnerable to, like the common cold.”

The study is the subject of a paper published this week in Health Psychology.

The researchers drew a distinction between feeling lonely and actual social isolation.

The concept of human rights is such a controversial topic because of issues that involve abuse. From centuries ago until now, human rights are constantly violated and brought up in the mainstream media. However, there is something rarely spoken of but just as crucial as well – animal rights.

Do animals have rights? It is but a valid question like human rights. Even though we think of animals as less superior than us, they are living beings too that deserve to treated right by society. But doesn’t evolution teach us that we evolved from Primates? If that’s the case, we are animals too, in a sense, right?

Abusing animals is no more justifiable than abusing people, writes Peter Tatchell. The moral touchstone is sentience, not species, and the ‘humans first’ ideology of speciesism is analogous to homophobia, racism & misogyny. Cruelty is barbarism, whether inflicted on humans or on other species. We need to recognise and accept our common animal nature.

Since we humans are an animal species, it is obvious that human rights are a form of animal rights; and that animal rights include – or should include – the human species.

Sadly, not everyone sees it this way. Many view humans and other animals as totally distinct: drawing a clear, sharp line between animal rights and human rights.

That’s not my view. Sentience is the bond that unites all animal species,

Most of us can relate to the fact that the struggle is real when we live stream. While most Western countries enjoy faster and cheaper Internet access, many developing nations struggle with poor Internet connections at double or thrice the price that their Western counterparts pay for. It’s something that really won’t bother you if you just use the web to browse and access social media and not for video watching, or worse, for work. Poor connections can still do its job of loading pages and help you stay updated on what’s viral and trending online. However, Internet connectivity is a major headache for people who love to stream online or even use the web to earn money. And rebuffering is a common complaint experienced by most web users who loves watching their favorite videos via the World Wide Web.

Back in the days, you only had the television and the occasional video rentals of favorite movies to keep you entertained during your free time. But that was eons ago. Blockbuster has long since been bankrupt and most kids these days have no idea what a VHS is and how it works. For them, watching videos can easily be done on Youtube or any video sharing site on the web. Even young kids have subscriptions to their fave Youtube channels to help them pass the time. At least, they no longer have to …

In most societies, talking about mental illness is a major taboo. People are not just comfortable discussing any of these controversial health conditions most of us know so little about. But what is really so distressing when discussing issues that are innate to all humans? If we get sick physiologically because of many factors, the same thing can happen to our mental state. After all, we are not robots and we have feelings that get hurt too.

Our psychological, emotional and social well-being comprises our mental health. How we feel, think, act and respond to stress are affected by all these factors. Whether you are a young child or an older adult, it is important to take care of your mental health at every stage of your life because various external factors like biological agents, life experiences, and a family history of a mental disease can put you at higher risk of developing a mental illness over time. A healthy mental state can help you cope with all the challenges you face in life, whether big or small, and the failure to cope often leads to mental illness.

Nicola talks openly about her battle with schizophrenia in a bid to help other people understand the illness better. A few years ago she became an ambassador for See Change, the National Mental Health Stigma Reduction Partnership, and will be speaking about the condition when